Electric cord plug-in connection



May 16, 1933. L. E. AUSTIN ELECTRIC CORD PLUG-IN CONNECTION Filed Sept.25, 1931 INVENTOR Patented May 16, 1933 4 UNITED STATES LEONARD E.AUSTIN, OF TOBBENXSE, CALIFORNIA 'nmc'raic oonn Prue-m CONNECTION"Application filed September 25, 1931. Serial No. 565,138.

My invention relates particularly to an improved connecting means forconnecting an electric cord to a terminal socket, and it has among itssalient objects to provide a plug-in 5- connecting means which can beinserted into a terminal socket member and interlocked therewith so asto prevent accidental removal thereof during the use of an electricappliance at the other end of the electric cord; to provide a connectingdevice which can be inserted in the usual manner into a terminal socketand with means thereon for frictionally locking said device in place toprevent accidental removal, said means being telescopically movableaxially into said device as the device is inserted into the terminalsocket; to provide in a device of the character referred to a body orhousing for an insert piece having the projecting rongs, with means 2through the side of the ody for the connection of the cord to saidinsert piece, and with the plunger and friction-increasing means axiallymounted and movable as the device is inserted into the terminal socket.

In order to further explain my invention, I have illustrated onepractical embodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drawing, whichI will now describe.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, showing myimproved electric cord plug-in connecting device; and

Fi ure 2 is an end view, taken at line 2-2, of Flg. 1, looking into thedevice detached, with the prongs in section.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, my invention as here shown forillustrative purposes, comprises an insert member 3, of disc like form,and of insulating material, such as fiber or other suitable material,having two insert prongs 4, 4, secured thereto, and

each provided with means at 4, 4' for attaching wires 5, ,5, of a cord6. Said insert memher 3, is secured within a body member 7, which may beof rubber, or other suitable material, with its outer end reduced indiameter, as at 7', to receive a lunger element or member 8, also madeof suitable insulating material, and provided with two expander prongs,as 9, on y one of which is seen in Fig. 1, the ends of which are wedgeshape. These insert prongs 4, 4, and forces said insert expander prongs9, 9, slide through corresponding slots 3 in the insert member 3, and.between the inner faces of the insert prongs 4, 4, and as said plungermember is moved inwardly telescopically, the expander prongs 9, 9,frictionally engage and expand the insert prongs 4, 4, and force theminto frictional engagement with the contact members, as 10, in aterminal plug or socket, 11. This terminal member 11, may beset in awall, or other place to constitute the terminal receiving socket intowhich the insert member may be inserted as shown.

The device, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, 1s put in place with theprongs 4, 4, inserted into the terminal socket 11, after which theplunger element 8 is pushed inwardly to the position indicated in lightbroken lines, which forces its expander prongs 9, 9, between the prongsinto frictional engagement with the contact members of the terminalsocket 11., as will be readily understood. This frictional engagement.prevents accidental disconnection, but at the same time makes itpossible in case of a pull sufliciently hard to injure the device topermit the device to be detached. The cord 6, it will be seen is passedthrough the side of the body 7 and the plunger is thus in axialalinement with the body of the device and can be pushed inwardly as thedevice is inserted into the terminal socket.

I am aware that changes in details can be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the inventionto theshowing made, except as I may be limited by the hereto appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A plug-in connection for an electric cord consisting of an insertpiece having two prongs to be inserted into an electric socket, anexpander piece telescopically mounted through said insert piece andhaving two expanding prongs between said first prongs on said insertpiece and adapted to wedge between said first prongs to expand them intofrictional engagement with said electric socket,and a plunger member formanually 1 moving said expander piece inwardly and outwardlly.

2. A p ug-in connection for connecting an electric cord with an electricterminal socket and consisting of an insert piecehaving two prongs to beinserted into termmal socket, an expander piece telescoplcally movablethrough said insert piece and having two expander prongs bearing againstthe mner sides of said first prongs and adapted to expand said firstprongs apart as moved toward the ends of said first prongs, means forconnecting an electric cord through the side of said device, and aplunger member for manually moving said insert piece inwardly andoutwardly. I

3. A plug-in connection for electric cords consisting of an insert piecehaving two prongs to be inserted into a terminal socket, a. body forholding said insert piece, means for connecting a cord through the sideof said body to said insert piece and said prongs, a plunger elementmovable axially through said body, and an expander piece on the innerend of said plunger element with parts bearing against the inner facesof said prongs on said insert piece and adapted to expand said prongsinto frictional engagement with the terminal socket as said plunger andits inner end parts are moved inwardly.

4. A plug-in connection for electric cords consisting of an insert piecehaving two prongs to be inserted into a terminal socket, a body forholding said insert piece, means for connecting a cord through said bodyto said insert piece, a plunger element movable axially through saidbody, and prong-engaging members on the inner end of said plunger andadapted to engage and press said prongs into frictional engagement withsaid terminal socket to prevent accidental disconnection.

Signed at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, this 19th day ofSeptember, 1931.

LEONARD E. AUSTIN.

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